HONOLULU – Remember the Fresno State game, when Bulldogs’ defender Ejiro Ederaine recovered an Ezell Ruffin fumble and returned it for a touchdown as the Aztecs stood frozen, thinking the play had ended when Ruffin was tackled and hit the ground?

The moral of the story then was to always assume the play is live until told otherwise.

Well, it seems the Aztecs have learned from that experience.

Against Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on Saturday night, San Diego State’s first score came off what was essentially a free play.

Hawaii defensive lineman Tavita Woodard jumped offsides in the second quarter, and SDSU quarterback Quinn Kaehler seized the opportunity to launch a long ball to Colin Lockett as most of the Warriors’ defenders froze, waiting for the penalty to take effect.

The play ended as a 56-yard touchdown reception for Lockett, and stood up after review.

It was SDSU’s only touchdown in a rough first half in which Kaehler went 9 of 21 for 144 yards, and the Aztecs punted six times.

But there were more Fresno State flashbacks to come. In the third quarter, Ruffin caught a pass from Kaehler on third down, and much like he had in the Fresno game on the play that turned into an Ederaine TD, he scurried to pick up more yardage.

This time, Hawaii CB Ne’Quan Phillips derailed the play by knocking out the ball as he tackled Ruffin, and the Warriors recovered at their own 14.

SDSU committed four turnovers in a messy offensive performance.

They became the first team in the country to play three overtime games in 2013. And all Fresno overtones aside, the Aztecs made sure their third foray into OT would not end the way it did against the Bulldogs.

Adam Muema scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, and the Aztecs' defense then kept Hawaii out of the end zone as SDSU notched a 28-21 win to improve to a 2-1 record in overtime this year.

SDSU is now 6-2 all-time in overtime, with four of those games coming in the last two seasons.